Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 10-12-18

Feature
6th Annual Central Park Village Reunion Planned
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For the last five years, former residents of the now defunct former public hous- ing complex have held a re- union. This year, the organizers have come to- gether once again for the 6th Annual Central Park Village Dance & Reunion.
The event will take place on Sunday, October 28th, at Rowlett Park, #218. It will begin at 12 noon and end at 7:30 p.m. The theme for the event this year is “Unity, Health, & Wisdom.”
Reunion organizer, Ali Muhammad said, “Former residents of Central Park Vil- lage got together with me taking a lead from the late Jesse Jet Set Hudson and Ruth Jenkins, and started having annual reunions. The reunions have become a great opportunity for former residents to meet again, es- pecially those who were among the first families to
The Central Park Village Public Housing Complex was “home” to thousands of families between 1954 and 2007.
the area built a school and a repository.
It had become home to approximately 21,000 African Americans by the 1920s. It bordered Central Avenue, the main strip for African Americans of the time.
The African American population in this area be- came self-sufficient over the years. They built and opened shops, stores, clubs, restau- rants, theaters, hotels, and more on Central Avenue.
Eventually, the area un- derwent reconstruction. In 1954, the first families moved into the newly con- structed Central Park Village Public Housing Complex. Families continued to live in the complex for the next 53 years until they were up- rooted and relocated to make way for The Encore.
Anyone wishing to obtain additional information can reach Muhammad at (813) 451-0806; Eric Patterson, Sr., at (813) 475-802-; or visit www.centralparkre- union.webs.com.
ALI MUHAMMAD Reunion Organizer
occupy the complex.” Leading up to the re-
union, the organizers will host an Old Skool CPV dance. It will be held at the American Legion Post #248, 3204 W. Cypress Street, from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
The event will feature health screenings by event co-sponsor, Health Matters Pharmacy, entertainment,
food, and other activities.
About Central Park
According to the organi- zation’s website, freed slaves founded the Scrubs in the late 1800s. In 1891, residents constructed their own church, the St. James Epis- copal Church with $100 of building supplies the resi- dents had saved up. Soon
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